Faith is not our physician. Faith simply brings us to Christ our
great Physician. It is not even our medicine. It only takes the medicine,
divinely prepared by Christ who "healeth all our diseases."
Our faith is but our touching the Son of God, which, in reality, is but him
touching us.

Our Savior

Faith is not our Savior. It was not faith that was born at
Bethlehem and died at Calvary for us. It was not faith that loved us, and gave
itself for us; that bore our sins in its own body on the tree; that died and
rose again for our sins. Faith is one thing. Our Savior is another. Faith is
one thing. The cross is another. We must never confound them. We must never
ascribe to our poor, imperfect faith that which belongs exclusively to the Son
of God.

Our Perfection

Faith is not perfection. Yet “it must be perfect to be
accepted.” We can only be saved by perfection, our own or another's. That
which is not perfect cannot justify. An imperfect faith could not in any sense
be considered righteousness. If our faith is to justify us, it must be perfect.
It must be like "the lamb, without blemish and without spot."
An imperfect faith may (and most certainly does) connect us with the perfection
of another; but it cannot of itself do anything for us. An imperfect faith
cannot protect us from the wrath of the Almighty. Neither can an imperfect
faith secure for us the forgiveness of sins. Our faith is, at best, terribly
imperfect. Our best, strongest faith is marred by horrid unbelief.

Our Security

Faith is not our security. Our security is not in our faith in
Christ, but in Christ himself, the Object of our faith. It matters not how
poor, weak and imperfect our faith maybe, if it touches the perfect One, all is
well. It is the touch of faith that draws virtue from him; but it is his virtue
that saves us, not the virtue of our faith. “The slightest imperfection in our
faith, if faith were our righteousness, would be fatal to every hope. But the
imperfection of our faith, however great, … is no hindrance to our
participation of His (Christ’s) righteousness.” (Horatius Bonar).

God demands and God himself, and himself alone, has provided
perfect righteousness for chosen sinners in his darling Son. He neither demands
nor expects perfect faith. A clay pitcher can bring water to thirsty lips as
well as one made of pure gold. Our faith, be it ever so feeble, faith which can
but cry, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief,” suffices to connect
us with the Lord Jesus Christ, “who of God is made unto us Righteousness.”AMEN.